Narendra Modi returns after Nepal visit

New Delhi, Nov 28: Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned late on Thursday night after a three-day visit to Nepal. In Nepal, he held bilateral talks with the Nepali leadership during which some agreements were inked. He also attended the two-day 18th SAARC Summit that concluded Thursday. He attended a banquet dinner hosted by Nepal President Ram Baran Yadav before emplaning for New Delhi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with Nepal Prime Minister Sushil Koirala on key strategic issues. Both India and Nepal agreed to sign 10 agreements, which includes a pact on USD 1 billion assistance to Nepal. A number of issues were discussed, that included defence and security. The meeting between Modi and Koirala lasted for nearly more than half hour. Speaking on the bilateral ties, Narendra Modi said, “When we trust each other, we can move forward very quickly.”

India and Nepal today signed the Motor Vehicle Agreement under which permit would be given to vehicles to ply on designated routes in each other’s country. They also inked three twin-city pacts between Kathmandu-Varanasi, Janakpur-Ayodhya and Lumbini-Bodh Gaya. The 10 agreements signed between the two countries include, MoU on training at Nepal Police Academy, MoU on Tourism, MoU Traditional Medicines and MoU on Youth Exchange. A MoU was also signed on a project development agreement over the 900 megawatt hydro-electric project on the Arun river in Nepal.